Chapter 92: Comparable to Pants
When Mr. Wang saw this scene, his legs began to shake. He could dominate this small town because of his ability to judge people.
The four people in front of them saw that he had an extraordinary aura and cursed in their hearts: "Who did that bastard Wang Bie provoke?"
Mr. Wang wanted to say that he didn't want to go, but he had no choice. Xia Qingfeng used his lightness skills to fly directly in front of Mr. Wang, grabbed his shoulders with one hand and lifted him up. Mr. Wang was still struggling, but Xia Qingfeng would not give him the chance and reached the bow of the boat in a few breaths.
After this series of actions, Mr. Wang was almost scared to death, with sweat pouring down his forehead. He no longer had the courage to fight and kill as before.
"I don't know your surname or your first name."
Xia Qingfeng said bluntly: "Mr. Wang will know soon, don't worry!"
Wang Yuanwai's legs became even weaker now. He wondered who this man was and felt that he was someone he couldn't afford to offend.
Mr. Wang didn't stand firmly, he stumbled and knelt directly on the deck, thinking: It's over, it's really over this time, I have hit a wall!
Seeing the people on the boat looking like they wanted to tear him apart, he shrank his neck in fear.
If it weren't for Zhang San and other officers who stopped everyone on the boat, Mr. Wang would have been beaten up by the crowd long ago.
Mr. Wang looked around the situation on the boat and saw that everyone's gazes were like sharp swords, piercing him in unison, making him feel uneasy and uncomfortable.
A quaint and elegant coffee table is placed in the center of the bow, on which is placed a set of exquisite tea sets, with steam rising from it.
A middle-aged couple sat on both sides of the coffee table. The man was dignified and his brows revealed a majestic aura that was intimidating without even being angry.
The woman is as gentle as water, and her every move and gesture shows the demeanor of a lady from a noble family.
The two were talking in low voices, occasionally smiling at each other. The harmonious and warm atmosphere was incompatible with the tense atmosphere around them, as if they were two completely different worlds.
Even Mr. Wang couldn't help but be dazed.
He turned his head and met a pair of sharp eyes again. His throat was blocked, as if it was tightly strangled by an invisible hand.
Those eyes were as deep as a cold pond, revealing an unquestionable determination and coldness.
The owner of the gaze was the middle-aged man sitting next to the coffee table. He gently put down the teacup in his hand. His movements were elegant but carried a power that could not be ignored.
Wang Yuanwai only felt that the gaze was like substance, penetrating all his disguises and pretense, and piercing the most secret corner of his heart.
His heartbeat suddenly accelerated and cold sweat dripped down his forehead.
It seems that the people on this boat are not simple. The old dog Wang Bie is not here. If he were here, he would definitely cut him into pieces.
Xia Xing'er and the three little guys sat comfortably on the deck, cracking melon seeds leisurely.
"I wonder what this official's name is?"
A man who knows the times is a hero. He found a person among all the people who he thought was the best to speak to, and that person was Zhang San.
He needed to find out the identities of these people as soon as possible and whether the Wang family could afford to offend them.
If he is really a big shot and they can't afford to offend him, then they will have to apologize quickly and lose some money and property.
Zhang San glanced at the Xia family and saw that they had no reaction.
He didn't even let Wang Yuanwai get up, and said playfully, "We heard that all the boats on the river are under Wang Yuanwai's control. Is that true?"
Wang Yuanwai was unsure of what Zhang San meant, and replied nervously: "Yes... yes!"
"The Xuanyuan Dynasty restricted the construction of ships. Anyone who built a ship weighing more than 500 dan (approximately 1,000 tons) would be exiled to the frontier, regardless of whether they were officers, soldiers, or civilians. Civilian, military, local gentry, and their accomplices would receive a three-year prison sentence. Anyone who knew of the private construction of a ship but failed to report it would be dismissed from office and punished with 100 strokes of the cane.
Zhang San smiled slightly and continued, "Although the current ban is not as strict as before, Mr. Wang's ship has long been out of regulation!"
Mr. Wang was sweating profusely and his face was terribly pale!
All his ships were built privately. Since he had connections, he could use backdoors, and the local officials turned a blind eye to his actions. However, none of them had any procedures, so they could not withstand inspection at all.
If someone from above were to come and investigate, his entire family would lose their heads.
Wang Yuanwai was frightened and trembled, saying, "This...this...Sir, I really don't know about these things. These things were all done by my steward Wang Bie behind my back."
Zhang San didn't care about his words. "Mr. Wang, who do you think will believe your words?"
"You are in charge of all the business on the river. Except for the villagers of Nanbei Village, the villagers of the other two villages are not allowed to operate boat businesses."
When Mr. Wang heard this, he broke out in a cold sweat and dared not say a word.
"Today, I, Zhang San, passed by here and nearly drowned. There were also innocent people on this boat, and you, the Wang family, wanted to massacre them all. Although my position is low, I am still an official appointed by the court! You are attempting to murder an official appointed by the court and disregarding the lives of the people."
When Mr. Wang heard that the plot was to murder an imperial official and disregard the lives of the people, his head was buzzing!
He swallowed and said cautiously, "I wonder who you are, sir?"
"My name is Zhang San, and I am the chief officer escorting the exiled criminals under the Emperor's order."
Mr. Wang breathed a sigh of relief.
"It's okay, it's okay, he's just a small leader escorting an exile team, nothing to be afraid of!"
Not to mention that he was just an exile team escorting officials, even the county magistrate had to give him some face.
It seems that my worries were unnecessary. I really thought that some important person had come.
Mr. Wang was able to stand up instantly, slowly sat up, shook off the wrinkles on his clothes, and stood up.
"Sir, I don't understand what you're saying. Is there any evidence for all this? I won't pursue the previous matter. Please send someone to take me to the shore."
Seeing him like this, Zhang San knew what he was thinking. He despised him for being just a small official, looked down on him, and felt that he had no way to deal with him.
He smiled instead of getting angry: "Mr. Wang, do you think a mere escort officer like me can't do anything to you?"
Wang Yuanwai looked at the entire boat and saw that he was the only one there. He drooped and said timidly, "My lord, I really didn't know anything. All of this was done by that old dog Wang Bie. I really didn't know anything. I had no idea you were crossing the river here today. Please believe me."
Because he bowed so low, the hat on his head fell off.
Xia Zibo's eyes lit up instantly, as if he had discovered a new world.
He excitedly tugged at Xia Xing'er's sleeve, pointed at the hat that Wang Yuanwai had dropped, and said in a low voice, but with unconcealed excitement: "Aunt, look at that old man's hat. It's all golden, embroidered with gold thread!"
As he spoke, he blinked mischievously, looking as if he was eager to pick it up and study it, but considering the occasion, he forced himself not to move.
The sunlight just happened to shine on the hat, and the golden thread sparkled brightly in the sunlight, forming a sharp contrast with Wang Yuanwai's gloomy face at the moment.
Xia Xing'er lifted her eyelids and took a look, then said nonchalantly, "Go pick it up. We just happen to be short of a basin for the melon seed shells, and this one will be perfect."
As soon as she finished speaking, the little brat Xia Zibo rushed out like a firecracker and kicked directly in front of Xia Xing'er.
Everyone quickly returned to Xia Xing'er, and the three children, one big and three small, immediately threw the melon seed shells in their hands into the hat.
"Pooh, pooh, pooh?"
Mr. Wang, who was still pretending to be pitiful, saw several children spitting into his hat, including melon seed shells. His cheeks twitched and he forgot what he wanted to say.
Damn it, where did this bastard come from?
Forget it, let’s ignore his hat for now, there are more important things to do.
"Sir, if I knew you were going to cross the river today, I would definitely arrange it myself and would never let Wang Bie do such a treasonous thing to you. Don't worry, I will definitely capture him and give you an explanation."
"Pah, pah, pah!"
Mr. Wang’s performance was interrupted again. He almost had a heart attack. Whose unlucky child is this? Can he take him away quickly? He doesn’t want the hat anymore!
Zhang San looked at the three little sons of the Xia family with a smile on his face. He had to say that he really liked these three children.
When he turned to face Mr. Wang, a different expression appeared on his face.
There was no way he could let Mr. Wang go just like that, and there was no way he could just let him push a housekeeper out to take the blame.
If the Xia family had not known about this in advance, these officials and innocent civilians would have all died today.
Thinking of this, his voice unconsciously turned cold: "It's too early for Mr. Wang to say these things now. You should find your housekeeper first."
"As for what happened here, I will report it truthfully. As for the emperor's judgment, neither you nor I can influence it! When the time comes, someone will come to investigate thoroughly and demand an explanation from you!"
Although he was only a small leader of the escorting officials, every time they arrived at a post station, they would write a memorial reporting the situation of the entire team and send it to the capital.
Given the current situation in the capital, that person will definitely order a thorough investigation for the sake of money. No matter how capable Mr. Wang is, he will not be able to escape.
Is it true that Wang Yuanwai didn't know about what happened today? He wouldn't believe it. If he didn't have his support behind the scenes, a small housekeeper would have such courage. It was obvious that the two of them were in cahoots with each other, doing evil and becoming habitual criminals who brought disaster to the area.
Zhang San doesn't think he is a good person, but he will not harm innocent people.
When Mr. Wang heard that this matter was going to be reported, he was shaking like a sieve.
If this were to be reported, would the evil deeds he and the housekeeper have done be kept secret?
If we can’t find out, we’re really finished!
He immediately knelt down and begged for mercy: "Sir, please be merciful and let me go. I am willing to pay compensation. As long as you name a number, I will pay it. I only ask that you can let me go a little."
Zhang San ignored Wang Yuanwai's pleas for mercy and had him tied up, preparing to hand him over to the authorities for punishment.
Thinking that he was colluding with the local authorities, he was ready to be handed over to the next authority.
As exiles, the Xia family couldn't intervene, so no one said anything.
As the leader of the exiled officials, Zhang San is still trustworthy after spending these days together.
After the matter was settled, Zhang San sent people to send the villagers on the boat to the shore, and then returned to collect evidence of Wang Yuanwai and his men burning the boat and killing people for future use.
The people who fell into the water were also salvaged. Seven or eight of them were dead, and a few escaped. The body of Wang Bie was also salvaged.
The housekeeper was lucky to die, otherwise the villagers on the shore would definitely not let him go, and would have drowned him even if each of them spit on him.
Along with the housekeeper's body, Zheng's body was also salvaged. Because it had been soaked in water for too long, it had turned white and swollen.
In just one morning, many people died, and everyone hated the Wang family to death.
The exile team has reached the other side of the river. Because Zhang San and his team still have things to deal with, they are all resting in the open space.
Xia Xing'er got into the carriage directly. Over the past few days, they had more or less guessed Xia Xing'er's abilities, but they just didn't say it out loud.
Seeing her enter the carriage alone, he took the initiative to cover her.
"Xing'er must be tired. Let's not bother her. Let her have a good rest."
"This Wang family's steward is really too much. He actually did such a heartless thing. If Xing'er had known about it beforehand, all of us would have been fed to the fish in the river, and we might even end up with corpses."
"They've done so many bad things that they'll definitely be punished!"
While waiting for someone, Xia Xing'er used the teleportation talisman to come to the Wang family in the town.
There was no need to look for it specifically, and the Wang family's house was soon found. After all, it was the only exquisite and magnificent mansion in the town.
With carved railings and painted buildings, nestled against the mountains and beside the water, the Wang family's house is like an exquisite painting unfolding before your eyes.
The mansion covers an area of nearly a hundred acres and is magnificent. The red walls and green tiles sparkle in the sun, making it particularly dazzling.
The courtyard is filled with rockery, flowing water, small bridges, corridors, and winding paths, each of which reveals extraordinary taste and style.
The fragrance of flowers and the freshness of grass are intertwined, which is refreshing.
A huge golden plaque hangs above the main entrance of the mansion, with the four characters "Wangfu" written in vigorous and powerful fonts, highlighting the dignity and prominence of the owner of this house.
Xia Xing'er hadn't originally thought about doing anything to the Wang family, but unexpectedly, they insisted on coming forward, so there was no need for her to be polite.
Time was limited, so once she entered the palace, she had no time to waste and searched as quickly as possible.
In Wang Yuanwai's study, she found evidence of his collusion with the local gentry and government officials, and she teleported to these people's homes.
Adhering to the concept of sharing happiness and building a home together, they looted their mansion.
Among them was the family of the county magistrate.
By the time Xia Xing'er returned with several fortunes, Zhang San and others had finished their work on the shore.
By the time the news spread that the Wang family and the county magistrate's mansion had been emptied by the recently notorious thief, the exile team had already walked more than ten miles again.
The team rested for a quarter of an hour in a small woods, and Jiang Dawei kept chattering there.
Xia Xing'er asked curiously, "Are there any bandits here?"
When Jiang Dawei saw that Xia Xing'er was interested in this matter, he suddenly felt happy and excited, and began to talk about it incessantly.
"Miss Xia, you don't know. I heard that right after we left Xianxia County, the bandits who stole from the imperial palace looted Mr. Wang's house, the county magistrate's mansion, and several other prominent local gentry. They were all as clean as my underpants!"
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